Ben McCollum’s sideline intensity has become one of the defining visuals of Iowa’s surprising March Madness run. As the Hawkeyes pushed into the Elite Eight, cameras repeatedly caught their head coach shouting instructions and coaching every possession with urgency.
That prompted questions about whether McCollum’s animated style is simply who he is or a response to the high-pressure moment Iowa now finds itself in. The Iowa coach made it clear that his approach is rooted in old-school principles, even if he has had to adapt them for a different generation of players. With the Hawkeyes now one win from the Final Four, McCollum’s philosophy is drawing as much attention as Iowa’s Cinderella run itself.
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During his latest appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” McCollum was asked about his fiery sideline demeanor after Iowa’s latest tournament win, 71-77, against the Fred Hoiberg-led Nebraska Cornhuskers. The conversation turned toward whether that edge is something fans should expect regularly from the former Division II powerhouse coach.
In response, McCollum pointed back to the coach who shaped his own basketball upbringing and explained why that model cannot be applied exactly the same way today.
“It’s not an attempt to be spectacular television,” said McCollum. “I was coached by a guy by the name of Steve Tappmeyer in division two, and it was probably more old-school coaching. I felt like I could be similar to that, slightly different. I think with kids nowadays, you do have to have more of a relationship.”
“When I grew up, you just respected your coach and you’d play for him. Now you have to respect him and like him. So the ability, the ability to coach guys hard, you have to have that relationship before you can, I don’t just go in and start screaming at people, but we have a relationship,” he added.
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That answer reflected both McCollum’s background and the path that brought him here. He played under Tappmeyer at Northwest Missouri State. That coaching lineage helped shape McCollum’s demanding standards, but he emphasized that honesty and trust now go hand in hand.
“The ability to coach guys hard, you have to have that relationship before you can.”
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum joined the @PatMcAfeeshow after defeating Nebraska to move on to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament 🏀 pic.twitter.com/GzJt7CrJMW
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 27, 2026
“I always tell them the truth. You’re brutally honest with them,” the coach continued. “And sometimes they can come back at me with the same intensity. And we’re trying to find solutions in the moment.
“And, that’s a pretty consistent thing if they’re not ready to go. But if they’re ready to go, then you don’t really need to do that. I don’t know what my message was there. Somebody sent it to me. I’m like, man, I can’t look any dumber than that.”
Iowa’s Elite Eight Run Puts McCollum’s Methods Under a Bigger Spotlight
McCollum’s comments come as Iowa continues one of the tournament’s biggest surprise runs. The Hawkeyes knocked off Nebraska to reach the Elite Eight for the first time in 39 years, controlling the tempo and forcing mistakes late in a game that highlighted their discipline and poise. Now, Iowa is set to face Illinois, which reached the Elite Eight for the second time in three seasons after eliminating Houston.
That matchup will test whether McCollum’s demanding but “relationship-based” coaching style can carry Iowa one step further. If the Hawkeyes can keep dictating pace and responding to pressure, McCollum’s blend of old-school accountability and modern player management may soon have Iowa playing for a spot in the Final Four.
